• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.242-247
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• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate the combined effects of oyster shell, fly ash and gypsum on rice yield and quality. The four treatments of soil amelioration were oyster shell 4, fly ash 80, fly ash 56 + gypsum 24 and oyster shell 0.8 + fly ash 40 + gypsum 24 ton/ha. Rice yield were in the order of oyster shell, fly ash and control plats. The pH, EC values and OM, Ca, $SO_4$, moisture contents of the top-soil after rice harvesting in soil amelioration treatments were increased, while Mg, Na, Fe, Zn and Al were decreased than those of control. Rice quality was the best in the fly ash plat due to lower T-N and higher Mg/K ratio.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.561-571
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) is capable of regulating lipid and glucose metabolism through its action on adipocytes. However, the beneficial role of GRb1-induced up-regulation of adiponectin in liver steatosis remains unelucidated. Thus, we tested whether GRb1 ameliorates liver steatosis and insulin resistance by promoting the expression of adiponectin. Methods: 3T3-L1 adipocytes and hepatocytes were used to investigate GRb1's action on adiponectin expression and triglyceride (TG) accumulation. Wild type (WT) mice and adiponectin knockout (KO) mice fed high fat diet were treated with GRb1 for 2 weeks. Hepatic fat accumulation and function as well as insulin sensitivity was measured. The activation of AMPK was also detected in the liver and hepatocytes. Results: GRb1 reversed the reduction of adiponectin secretion in adipocytes. The conditioned medium (CM) from adipocytes treated with GRb1 reduced TG accumulation in hepatocytes, which was partly attenuated by the adiponectin antibody. In the KO mice, the GRb1-induced significant decrease of TG content, ALT and AST was blocked by the deletion of adiponectin. The elevations of GRb1-induced insulin sensitivity indicated by OGTT, ITT and HOMA-IR were also weakened in the KO mice. The CM treatment significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of AMPK in hepatocytes, but not GRb1 treatment. Likewise, the phosphorylation of AMPK in liver of the WT mice was increased by GRb1, but not in the KO mice. Conclusions: The up-regulation of adiponectin by GRb1 contributes to the amelioration of liver steatosis and insulin resistance, which further elucidates a new mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of GRb1 on obesity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.660-667
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• 2017

PineXol, extracted from Korean red pine bark, has beneficial effects, such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antilipogenic activities in vitro. We tested the hypothesis that PineXol supplementation could have anti-obesity effects on mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Four-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed normal chow (18% kcal from fat) or a HFD (60% kcal from fat). HFD-fed animals were also subjected to PineXol treatment at a dose of 10 or 50 mg/kg body weight (BW) (PX10 or PX50, respectively) body weight. The body weight and body fat mass in the PX50 group were statistically lower than those in the HFD group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). The concentration of hepatic triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were reduced in the PX50 group compared with the HFD group (p < 0.01). Acetyl CoA carboxylase (p < 0.01), elongase of very long chain fatty acids 6 (p < 0.01), stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (p < 0.05), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (p < 0.01), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased in the PX50 group compared with that in the HFD group. In white adipose tissue, CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein alpha (p < 0.05), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (p < 0.001), and perilipin (p < 0.01) were decreased in the PX50 group compared with those in the HFD group. Therefore, the current study implies the potential of PineXol for the prevention and/or amelioration of obesity, in part by inhibition of both hepatic lipid synthesis and adipogenesis in white adipose tissue.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.141-150
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• 2015

The present study was undertaken to evaluate effects of eco-friendly underwears(three kinds of natural dying underwears) in patients with atopic dermatitis. We recruited 45 patients with atopic dermatitis admitted to Dongshin Oriental Hospital from August to September 2013. These patients were divided into three groups (A, B and C). Each group include 15 patients and three kinds of natural underwears dyed with polygonum tinctorium, loess, and non-dyed general cotton were given, respectively. We also used SCORAD index and digital infrared thermal imaging to investigate the effects of each eco-friendly underwear in patients with atopic dermatitis. In SCORAD index, Group A after wearing loess-dyed underwears for 4 weeks showed statistically significant reduction to 27.96 (P<0.05) compared to 34.20 before wearing loess-dyed underwears. In Group B after wearing polygonum tinctorium-dyed underwears for 4 weeks, SCORAD index and objective severity assessment were markedly reduced into 22.97 (P<0.01) and 18.17 (P<0.01) compared to 35.95 and 27.89 before wearing polygonum tinctorium.-dyed underwears, respectively. In Group C after wearing general cotton (non-dyed) underwears for 4 weeks, there was statistically no difference in SCORAD index, objective severity assessment and body temperature between before and after wearing general cotton (non-dyed) underwears. Taken together, polygonum tinctorium-dyed underwears used to patients with atopic dermatitis shows significant amelioration in atopic symptoms than loess-dyed underwears as well as general cotton (non-dyed) underwears.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.728-732
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• 2006

In this study, the effects of corn peptide consumption on plasma lipid profiles were investigated in high cholesterol diet-fed rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 21) were fed with corn peptide-free (control) diet, diets containing 2% or 5% com peptide for 5 weeks. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding l% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets. No difference was found in food intake and body weight gain among groups. The corn peptide treated groups showed significant improvement in the plasma level of HDL-cholesterol (p<0.05) compared to the control group, while the plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were not affected.5oio corn peptide supplemented diet reduced plasma level of triglycerides (p<0.05) The atherogenic index was decreased in the corn peptide treated groups. These results suggest that consumption of corn peptide may lead to an amelioration of metabolic syndrome as well as a reduction of cardiovascular disease and hyperlipidemia through increasing the level of HDL-cholesterol, and decreasing the level of triglycerides in plasma.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2008

OLETF (Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty) rats are characterized by obesity-related insulin resistance, which is a phenotype of type 2 diabetes. Sulfonylurea drugs or benzoic acid derivatives as inhibitors of the ATP-sensitive potassium $(K_{ATP})$ channel are commercially available to treat diabetes. The present study compared sulfonylurea drugs (glimepiride and gliclazide) with one of benzoic acid derivatives (repaglinide) in regard to their long-term effect on ameliorating insulin sensitivity in OLETF rats. Each drug was dissolved and fed with drinking water from 29 weeks of age. On high glucose loading at 45 weeks of age, response of blood glucose recovery was the greatest in the group treated with glimepiride. On immunohistochemistry analysis for the Kir6.2 subunit of $K_{ATP}$ channels, insulin receptor ${\beta}$-subunits, and glucose transporters (GLUT) type 2 and 4 in liver, fat and skeletal muscle tissues, the sulfonylurea drugs (glimepiride and gliclazide) were more effective than repaglinide in recovery from their decreased expressions in OLETF rats. From these results, it seems to be plausible that $K_{ATP}$-channel inhibitors containing sulfonylurea moiety may be much more effective in reducing insulin resistance than those with benzoic acid moiety. In contrast to gliclazide, non-tissue selectivity of glimepiride on $K_{ATP}$ channel inhibition may further strengthen an amelioration of insulin sensitivity unless considering other side effects.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.431-443
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nobiletin (NOB), a citrus flavonoid, is reported to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health. However, there is limited research investigating the effect of long-term supplementation with low-dose NOB on high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-induced hypercholesterolemia and non-obese nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, we investigated the influence of NOB on hypercholesterolemia and NAFLD in HCD-fed mice. SUBJECTS/METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or HCD (35 kcal% fat, 1.25% cholesterol, 0.5% cholic acid) with or without NOB (0.02%) for 20 weeks. RESULTS: HCD feeding markedly reduced the final body weight compared to ND feeding, with no apparent energy intake differences. NOB supplementation suppressed HCD-induced weight loss without altering energy intake. Moreover, NOB significantly decreased the total cholesterol (TC) levels and the low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/very-LDL-cholesterol to TC ratio, and increased the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol/TC ratio in plasma, compared to those for HCD feeding alone. The plasma levels of inflammatory and atherosclerosis markers (C-reactive protein, oxidized LDL, interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) were significantly lower, whereas those of anti-atherogenic adiponectin and paraoxonase were higher in the NOB-supplemented group than in the HCD control group. Furthermore, NOB significantly decreased liver weight, hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride contents, and lipid droplet accumulation by inhibiting messenger RNA expression of hepatic genes and activity levels of cholesterol synthesis-, esterification-, and fatty acid synthesis-associated enzymes, concomitantly enhancing fatty acid oxidation-related gene expression and enzyme activities. Dietary NOB supplementation may protect against hypercholesterolemia and NAFLD via regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism in HCD-fed mice; these effects are associated with the amelioration of inflammation and reductions in the levels of atherosclerosis-associated cardiovascular markers. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that NOB may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of HCD-induced hypercholesterolemia and NAFLD.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.175-186
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• 2021

Purpose - This study intended to identify the effects of varied institutional systems and policies that regulate or define operations of enterprises upon the profitability of private enterprises through case analysis. Design/methodology/approach - The systems and differences in the institution and commodity distribution in Korea and Japan, which define the operation of the "Garak Wholesale Market" and "Ota Wholesale Market". We were examined in the presentthis study, and the statistical data pertinent to the trade volume and profitability of wholesale market corporations that substantially run both markets, were analyzed. Findings - The competition among the corporations that run the "Garak Wholesale Market" substantially is limited due to regulations over the mode of transaction and monopoly of trust thereby significantly higher level of profitability and safety are guaranteed. However, the institutional autonomy that enabled each distributor in the "Ota Wholesale Market" to compete with each other freely caused the distributors therein face difficulties in securing stable profits due to the relatively poor level of profitability resulted from the autonomy. Research implications or Originality - It seems the autonomy in commercial transaction in the "Garak Wholesale Market" in Korea needs to be secured to promote the competition of distributors therein through an amelioration of institutional systems and amendment of relevant laws that prescribe current management of various distributors/operators in the market.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.31-37
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• 2023

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate the muscle-improving and therapeutic effects of Boehmeria platanifolia (BP) in a mouse model of dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy. Methods : Muscle atrophy was induced in C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone for 12 days. BP extract was administered orally at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg for 19 days, starting 7 days before the intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone. Mice were weighed during the experimental period, and muscle strength and muscle weight were measured at the end of the experiment. The gastrocnemius (GASTROC) muscles of mice were isolated and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the muscle fibers was measured after H&E staining. Results : Dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy mice had a decrease in body weight compared to normal mice, and BP-administrated mice did not show significant change in body weight compared with a control group. Muscle strength in mice with induced muscle atrophy was reduced compared to normal and significantly increased with BP administration and positive control. In addition, the weight of the quadriceps (QUAD) muscle and fiber size of the GASTROC muscle, which was reduced in sarcopenia-induced mice, was increased by BP. Conclusion : BP extract increased muscle strength, muscle weight, and muscle fiber size in dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy mice. This suggests that the efficacy of BP extracts in improving muscle strength and preventing and treating sarcopenia may be beneficial for the development of potential therapeutic or functional products.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2023

Objective: Human exposure to multiple xenobiotics, over various developmental windows, results in adverse health effects arising from these concomitant exposures. Humans are widely exposed to bisphenol A, and acetaminophen is the most commonly used over-the-counter drug worldwide. Bisphenol A is a well-recognized male reproductive toxicant, and increasing evidence suggests that acetaminophen is also detrimental to the male reproductive system. The recent recognition of male reproductive system dysfunction in conditions of suboptimal reproductive outcomes makes it crucial to investigate the contributions of toxicant exposures to infertility and sub-fertility. We aimed to identify toxicity in the male reproductive system at the mitochondrial level in response to co-exposure to bisphenol A and acetaminophen, and we investigated whether melatonin ameliorated this toxicity. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n=10 each): a control group and groups that received melatonin, bisphenol A, acetaminophen, bisphenol A and acetaminophen, and bisphenol A and acetaminophen with melatonin treatment. Results: Significantly higher lipid peroxidation was observed in the testicular mitochondria and sperm in the treatment groups than in the control group. Levels of glutathione and the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and manganese superoxide dismutase decreased significantly in response to the toxicant treatments. Likewise, the toxicant treatments significantly decreased the sperm count and motility, while significantly increasing sperm mortality. Melatonin mitigated the adverse effects of bisphenol A and acetaminophen. Conclusion: Co-exposure to bisphenol A and acetaminophen elevated oxidative stress in the testicular mitochondria, and this effect was alleviated by melatonin.